Activision has released ports of the classic Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, but the release has been met with significant technical criticism. Tech analysis outlet Digital Foundry has described the quality of the PS5 conversion as “disappointingly poor,” noting that the games are capped at 1080p resolution and 60Hz frame rates.
Experts highlighted that despite the significant graphical horsepower available on the PS5, the ports maintain original visual limitations from the titles’ 2010-era origins, including a lack of modern anti-aliasing and poor shadow quality. While the ports represent an improvement over the existing Xbox backwards-compatible versions—which remain locked at the original 608p resolution—critics argue the performance is well below what current hardware is capable of delivering for a high-profile release.
The pricing strategy has also drawn scrutiny. The games are currently priced at $40 each, with season passes available for an additional $29.99, bringing the total cost for the complete experience to $140. PlayStation Plus subscribers, however, can access a promotional discount until August 6, reducing the price to $20 per game and $9 per season pass, totaling $58 for all content.